Your Hardiness Zone can help you zero in on the perennials , trees , and shrubs that will thrive in your domain .
Let ’s say you ’ve just discover about a gorgeous perennial or a spectacular bush you want to add to your garden . Will it survive in your area ? This interrogative iswhy the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map was create . A glimpse at it , and you may figure out your Zone . Okay , so now what ? This pathfinder explains everything you ask to know about using Hardiness Zones to choose the best plants to grow in your climate .
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Credit:U.S. Department of Agriculture
What Is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map?
You ’ve believably run across theUSDA Plant Hardiness Zone Mapor credit to it in garden cartridge and books , as well as on seed packets or in plant catalogs . This mathematical function split up the United States into 13 zone ( each of which is then divided into two subzones mark " a " and " b " ) . Each Zone is 10 ° farad warmer ( or colder ) in an average wintertime than the neighboring Zone . The lower the Zone number , the colder the region . The two subzones in each Zone map 5 ° atomic number 9 increments .
The 2023 version of the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map shows that about half the country shift to the next warmer half subzone in the decennium since the previous 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map , and the repose of the country stay in the same subzone .
Although factors other than temperature affect a plant ’s power to survive in a special mood , the USDA mathematical function is a honest starting point when you ’re deciding what to grow . However , in many areas of the country , elevation and hastiness can have more of an effect on plant endurance than only the temperature .
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What You Can Grow in Your Hardiness Zone
Most hardy plants ( perennial , trees , and shrubs ) have a geographical zone rating to indicate where they are likely tosurvive the winter from twelvemonth to year . For example , perhaps you ’d care to develop a industrial plant that is stout in Zones 5 - 9 , and you live in Zone 6 . This means you may expect the industrial plant towithstand the coldest wintertime temperaturesin your area .
But what if you experience in Zone 4 ? That ’s a more flukey berth , but you could try it if you do n’t mind a piddling risk of exposure . Some gardeners call this zone - pushing , and they ’ll often take extra measures such as heavy mulching to insulate a marginally hardy works against the cold . Or , you could play it safe and discover a different plant that has a good chance of withstanding your expanse ’s coldest temperatures .
Forannual prime , such as petunias , and veg , such as zucchini , Hardiness Zones do n’t matter much because these flora ordinarily fill out their life round ( seeded player spud to seed bring forth ) in a single time of year .
Credit: Laurie Black
When considering the Hardiness Zones a particular plant is rated for , remember of that info as a guideline , not a guarantee that it will survive in your climate . The USDA Hardiness Zone Map data is ground on average , but winter temperature can be milder or more uttermost in any given year .
Plants for Different USDA Hardiness Zones
The list below provides example of plants that can take the cold in each USDA Plant Hardiness Zone . Only the coldest zona for each listed flora is considered ; some works wo n’t thrive in substantially tender areas , but some will .
Zone 1: -50°F to -60°F
Most nurseryman are n’t dealing with freezing Zone 1 temperatures ; only a few character of Alaska , including metropolis such as Fairbanks , fall into this category . Still , zona 1 plants can withstand some of the most frigid conditions because winter temperature in this Zone can expend to -60 ° F .
When to establish : Mid - June
Common plant :
Credit: Robert Cardillo
Zone 2: -50°F to -40°F
Again , Zone 2 chiefly refers to surface area in Alaska , let in city such as Prudhoe Bay and Unalakleet . However , the northernmost tip of Minnesota also strike in Zone 2b , so if you live in or near Pinecreek , you ’ll want to look for works that are hardy in Zone 2 . Temperatures in these orbit can get down to -50 ° F in the wintertime .
Zone 3: -40°F to -30°F
Most plant aboriginal to the U.S. are found within Zones 3 to 10;the problematic of plants can withstand all of these zones . zona 3 industrial plant can withstand cold temperature of -40 ° F to -30 ° F . The upper Midwest states and some northeast res publica hold in most of Zone 3 , such as northerly part of Montana , North Dakota , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Wyoming , New York , and Maine .
When to Plant : Mid - May
Zone 4: -30°F to -20°F
geographical zone 4 plants can defy lower limit temporary worker from -30 ° F to -20 ° F . you may find this zone in Montana , Wyoming , North Dakota , South Dakota , Minnesota , Wisconsin , and northern area of Eastern states such as New York , Vermont , New Hampshire , and Maine .
Zone 5: -20°F to -10°F
This Hardiness Zone is another common one for the Midwest andNortheastern states , where humidity stays mellow during the summers , and wintertime can reach as depleted as -20 ° F to -10 ° F . you could incur Zone 5 in Colorado , Utah , Nebraska , Iowa , Wisconsin , Illinois , Indiana , Michigan , Pennsylvania , and New York .
When to implant : Mid - April
Zone 6: -10°F to 0°F
It ’s the middle of the road for Zone 6 , covering thePacific Northwest states , such as Washington and Oregon , and stretching over the midsection of the U.S. in Department of State such as Kansas , Missouri , Kentucky , Illinois , New Mexico , and all the path through Ohio . Plants rated for this Zone can hold temperature of -10 ° F to 0 ° fluorine .
Zone 7: 0°F to 10°F
Winters only on occasion hit the negatives in Zone 7 , which includes some parts of Washington and Oregon anddown through upper Texas , Oklahoma , and most of the way through Virginia and North Carolina . Plants destine as hardy in Zone 7 can cover temperature of 0 ° F to 10 ° F .
Zone 8: 10°F to 20°F
This geographical region tends to have a longer grow season than other country because thefirst frost occurslater in the year and thelast frostis originally . part of the West Coast and most of the South , such as Texas , Louisiana , Mississippi , Alabama , Georgia , and the Carolinas , and along the coast of Virginia strike into this Zone .
When to Plant : Mid - March
Zone 9: 20°F to 30°F
It ’s arrant California dreaming with mostly balmy temperatures in this Hardiness Zone . plant that are hardy in Zone 9 can defy temperatures as low-pitched as 20 ° F to 30 ° F . Besides much of California , southern Texas , Louisiana , and Florida also fall into Zone 9 .
When to implant : Mid - February
Zone 10: 30°F to 40°F
Zone 10 assure some of the hot temperatures in the U.S. , prevalent in Southern California , extreme - southerly Texas , andsouthern Florida . Plants give away to this Zone generally are n’t very tolerant of hoarfrost , but usually their beginning will hold out temperatures between 30 ° F to 40 ° F .
When to Plant : Mid - January
Zone 11: 40°F to 50°F
tropic plantsflourish in Zone 11 , which enshroud Hawaii , which enjoys year - bout warmth . Here , plants wo n’t tolerant temperatures below 40 ° F to 50 ° F . There is no frost whatsoever .
When to Plant : Any time
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